Top Universities, Bottom Dollar

How do you choose the best place to pursue higherAlso under 10,000, the Arlington branch of the
education? Is it a university's prestige? Is it the ratio ofUniversity of Texas is another great offering from the
faculty to students? Is it the quality of a certainLone Star State.
department? For a growing number of students, these3. University Of Texas at Dallas
considerations are not the primary ones. With the costTuition is the same as the other public Texas
of education skyrocketing, the choice has to becomeuniversities, but cost of living in Dallas bumps the UT
simpler: Where can I afford to attend? This list of thecampus there to third place on this list.
top 10 most economical schools is here to help.4. University of Utah
Tuition for a year of undergraduate education variesThe University of Utah pulls students in from out of
wildly. At the top reaches, people are spending $30,000state with extremely low tuition and a reputation for
for the privilege of getting educated alongside thehigh quality learning.
privileged. Are the classes worth the expense? Are5. State University of New York at Buffalo
the professors really so brilliant? Perhaps not. At manySUNY-Buffalo charges around $9,500 for two
of the most competitive and expensive universities,semesters and offers good financial aid packages and
students barely encounter their famous professors,fellowships to PhD candidates. With the money you
instead finding themselves taught by teachingsave going to SUNY-Buffalo, you can buy extra layers
assistants---graduate students not much older or moreof clothing to make it through chilly Buffalo winters.
experienced than themselves.6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
For a fraction of the cost, it is possible to acquire anFinally, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
education that is just as good, if not sometimes better,provides an enthusiastic student body a great
than that offered at the most pricey institutions ofeducation at an equally great price, hovering near the
higher learning. The cliché about school is that$10,000 mark.
"you get out what you put into it." This does not refer7. New Jersey Institute of Technology
to dollars "put in." The CEO's silver spoon son mayThe seventh entry on this list breaks the 10,000
fritter away a $30,000 year in a drunken stupor,mark---coming in at about 12,000 per year. Cost of
skipping classes, and buying term papers off theliving in New Jersey has also to be considered for
Internet. Dedicated students, paying far less, will findapplicants to NJIT.
themselves, in the end, with a diploma that means8. Arizona State University
much more. Elbow grease and hours hitting the booksSun-drenched ASU students have a reputation for
are the stuff of a real education.studying hard and playing hard. They pay around
Here, then, is a list of some of the most affordable12,000 in annual tuition.
schools in the nation. The prices mentioned require9. University of Arizona
residency. For those who do not live in Texas, forPaying approximately same as their ASU siblings,
example (the state with the top three most affordableUniversity of Arizona students can take advantage of
schools), extra time may be required living in state tofinancial aid after completing a semester.
establish residency. In the long run, this extra time may10. Illinois Institute of Technology
be well worth the effort.Also around 12,000 per year, the Illinois Institute of
1. Texas A&M UniversityTechnology has limited financial aid packages, but
Still under 10,000 a year, Texas A&M is one of theoffers a top quality education. In a state with many
best schools in the Southwest. Texas A&M is a greatgreat universities, the Illinois Institute of Technology
school for a great price.holds its own.
2. University of Texas at Arlington